Meat-washing machine



4 May 22. 1928:

, 5. A. HORMEL MEAT WASHING n ncnmn Filed 9ct. 16, 192s fuyant/or GEORGE/4. #oe/MEL .ff/TIMNEH" May 22, 1928. 1,670,809

l G. A. HORMEL V MEAT WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1926 5 SheQtS-rSheet 2 zvz'mof Gramm/iowa'.

May 22, 1928.` 1,670,809

` G. A. HORMEL MEAT WASHING MACHINE Filled Oct. 16, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 fnl/ardor GEOQGEAJOEMEL @www May 22, `192s. 1,670,809 G. A, HORMEL MEAT WASHING MACHINE Filed Oct, 16, 1926 5 ShetAs-Sheet 4 Iman/or GEORGE/LHQPMEL MVM( T'rcNss/.s

Patented May 22, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. HORMEL, F AUSTIN, MINNESOTA.

MEAT-WASHING MACHINE.

-Application mea october 16, 1926. sensi No. 142,068.

This invention relates to a 'device for washing meats, to remove grease, loose fat., and salt, automatically and Continuously, from sweet pickle and dry salt meats, to prepare the same for smoking.

Objects ot' the invention are to provlde brushes arranged above and below a conveyor for engaging the meat from both sides as it is fed forwardly; to provide means for holding the meat againstI the brushes, and aguil/ist curling; to provide means for operating the brushes respectively in certain 'predetermined directions relative to belt travel; to use oneotl the. brushes to assist in feeding the meat, while at the same time perform the cleaning operation; and to provide means for synchronizing belt and brush travel to make the peripheral speed of one of the brushes different than the speed of the belt, at point of contact therewith.

Features of the invention include the arrangement ot' the brushes and the direction Vof rotation. of the brushes, both in relation to direction of feed of the upper run of the belt; the construction of the brushes for the purpose in hand; the direction of sprays with the meeting angles of brush and meat; thel use of means for holding the stock upon the belt while being brushed and fed;rthe rocking adjustment of theupper brush; the mounting of. the rocking supports upon the axle of the lower brush; the common adjustable mounting for upper and lower` brushes; the provision of common driving means and connections for driving the brushes and feed belt in predetermined manner relative to one another, and-the general arrangement of the elements as well as their construction per se.

Other objects, features and certain advantages will be set forth in the descriptlon of the drawings forming "a part of this ap-l plication and in said drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view, with the top brush raised;

Figure 2' is an end view of one of the `specially constructed brushes;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section;

Figure 4 is a sid elevation mfrom the driving side of the machine;

Figure 5 is a side f elevation of the side oppositethat shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse on the line 6-6 of Figure 4; i

' Figure 7 is a detail, transverse section sub"- section formed upon s'tantially on the line 7-7 of Figure 3, showing how the grid is yieldably attached at its upper` end. -1

The main frame ofthe machine is constructed of galvanized angle iron, and supports a conveying apron in inclined position.

'I'he frame includes upright rectangular, transversely disposed end frame sections, l,- 2. The frames are connected longitudinally by pairs ot' angle irons 3. Theupper irons preferably have their conca-vc faces opposingly related to provide inwardly directed horizontal flanges acting to support the sprocket chains of an endless carrier or belt at points within the machine frame.

This carrier belt is composed of a pair of chains `5` each of which engages two sprocket wheels' 6. The sprocket wheelsare secured in pairs to upper and lower shafts 7, 8, the wheels being keyed'to the shafts and the shafts being supportedby brackets 10 as best shown in Figures 4 and 5. The journal boxes 11 for the lowershaft are adapted to be adjusted in direction longitudinally to the carrier. The chains are cross connected at intervals by bars 15 extending transversely of the main frame and secured in parallel relation. The connection' between the bars and the chains may be made in any preferred manner to form a grid-like carrier or belt. ,l i

Slidably mounted "one, on each opposite side and intermediate the diagonal frame members 3, at theouter side, are plates 16 arranged for vertical adjustment. These plates may be slidably mounted in any suitable manner, but are herein shown as havin opposite vertically disposed Vedges turne outwardly, and engaged with guides 17 I uide plates 18. The guides 17 are formed y rebending the plates 18 as shown in Figure l, to form a groove. The plates 18 are suitably securedas by screws.

Attached to'thc outer face of each guide plate18 and extending downwardly, one at each side of the frame, is an auxiliary'frame 20 having abearing 21 centrally thereof. The shaft 23 is arranged in the aligned bearf ings of these frames 20,` and has `an oper ating hand wheel 24. The, shaft 23 more over carries a pair of pinions 25 in mesh with the vertical racks 26, carried, oneeach, by ther plates 16. .This construction provides means for adjusting the'plates 16 vertically.

The plates 16 are provided with journal boxes 30 aligned crosswise of the machine,

arranged a. brush 31 also referred to as they v lower brush, which vis removably supported by stub shafts 32, 33, said shafts being joury frame.

' the meat. fternately on this upper mounting, accordnaled in respective bearings of the plates 16. The function of this brush is to clean the flesh side of the'meat, assist in feeding the meat, and to clean and polish the crossbars of theconveyo'r belt. The brush has an outside diameterof about twelve inches, the fibers being long and lclosely7 set. The liber is stiff so that it can work through the bars- -1 of theconveyor.

The lower brush is driven'from the stub shaft 32, which is rotatably mountedin one of the bearings 30 of the plates and extends outwardly` beyond .the frame, the outer end'v of the bearing being supported by a spiderlike bearing frame 35. The shaft has a driving sprocket wheel 36, lying between the hubs of the supporting plate and spider The inner end of this shaft is squared as at 40 andits in a correspondingly'osquared opening 41 of the hub of the brush as'shown. The driving stub shaft is thus supported by inner and outer bearings having a driving sprocket` therebetween. The other stub shaft 33 is adapted tobe held in supporting position against longitudinal movement by means of a lever 42 having an edge engaging in a circular groove 43 of the shaft, adjacent its outer end. The inner end of the shaftsockets within the circular opening 45 of the brush hub, to rotatably support the hub at this end. v

Swingingly arranged upon the stub shaft 32 at the outer side of the spider 35,"isa`A brush-supporting arm 50. -A similar argn 51 is arranged upon -the bearing 30. Each arm is provided with an upper bearing 52,

` the upper portion of which is hinged to permit quick removal of the shaft, when change from one kind of brush to another is required, se'e Figures 1 and 5.

The upper'brushes 60, 61 are adapted to 4be raised land lowered and swung .according -to the thickness of the meat, to properly engage the saine. The upper brush is forremoving salt from dry salt meats and.

grease and loose fat from sweet pickle meats and this upper brush, as well as its alternate, is made to rotate, at point of engagement with the belt, in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the belt, approximately at aspeed of 240 R. P. M. This brush is adapted to clean the skin side of There are' two brushes used aling to the. kind of meat being cleaned. The

flat meat brush 60,'see Figures 1.72, 3, 4,'a'nd 5,-is approximately sixteen inches in out-- Side diameter and theftiber 1s approximately six inches long and is composed of 'straight Bassinef The fiber is placed in eight rows .around the circumference of the core and thecore is approximately four inches in diameter. The construction of. these upper brushes is important inasmuch as they must bend in the manner of a paint brush as they engage the meat so that the meat `is not torn 'but only brushed, and this brushing action is center of the brush is preferably reduced in4 diameter as at 62 to conform somewhat tothe curvature of the hams '.or shoulders at their middles. The bristles of thel brushes are arranged to project through the grid or bars of the upper lain of the carrier, and have a paint-brush action, and also perform a kind of scraping action.

ln order to hold the swinging brush frame in its adjusted position and in order to s1- multaneously adjusteach arm of this, frame to prevent twisting, I provide the ollow' ing device, arranged transversely of and brush for hams and shoulders, desigfbetween the longitudinal connecting bars 3 at the delivery end of the carrier. A shaft 65 has at each' of its opposite ends alever or arm 66 projecting upwardly, in this instance to a point above the carrier. To each lever ata point above its pivotal point, is pivotally attached by one end, a link 67, the opposite end of which is pivotallyattached as at 69 to a corresponding standard, at a point adjacent its upper end near the bear-- ing. One of the levers has a handle70 and ity will be apparent that when pne lever isv operated, the other will be simultaneously moved. Pivoted to one of the links 67 in this instanceA the lone which connects with a hand lever, Ais an arcuate element 71 having I' an arcuate slot 72 therein. This element is engaged flatly against the outer slide ofthe hand lever, and a bolt 73, freely traverses the slot and lever, and has in threaded engagement therewith a hand-operable nut 75 adapted to clamp the arcuate element iz o against the lever to hold the lever in an adjusted position. Thus means is provided for raising and lowering the upper brush to control c,theasfpac'e conforming'to the thickness o'f the meat` and means is also provided to holdthe brush supports in adjusted positionm It will be'furthertnot'ed thatthejournals. of all brushes are' adjustably supportedhyz,

'. the same members; that'i's, byfthe vertically. adjustable plates, `so that when one 'brush L ward or delivery end of the machine. This grid is adapted to be adjusted at its lower end, and is yieldably held at its upper or delivery end by a pair of springs 82 attached at the outer end of the grid frame and extendingdownwardly and attached to the `main frame. Adjacent the lower end of the grid the same has attached thereto in transversely alined relation, a pair of projections 83, see Figure 1, toeach f which is pivotally secured a rack 84, extending downwardly at theoutsde of the main frame. This ,rack is suitably guided as at 86,'see Figure 4, andA each rack has engaged thereto a pinion 87'earried by a transverse shaft 88, joury naled at'opposite ends in one' of the slide plates and arranged beneath the upper run of the carrier transversely of the main frame. A suitable hand wheel 89 permits rotation of the shaft to raise and lower. the grid.

Guide arms 90 are provided for centering the meat on the apron or carrier and they are intermediately pivoted each upon a yeo bracket 91 attached by one end as by screws to the vertical corner post at the lower' end of the frame. These elements are adapted to swing outwardly to permit the body to pass upwardly toward the brushes, and each arm is yieldably held by a sprin'g 92 having one end attached tothe bracket and the othgr end attached to the element at that side below its pivotal point.

Means are provided for simultaneously driving the belt and brushes, the upper brush or61 in a direction opposite to belt travel, and the lower brush 31 in the same direction and at a greater speed than belt travel. Ordinarily the upper brush will be theorie that is driven in a direction opposite to belt travel, while the lower brush will be the one which is driven in the same di-I rection as belt travel and at an increased speed. The upper brush -shaft is provided with a sprocket 100 at the outer side, and the lower brush stub shaft 32 is also provided with a sprocket 101 which lies at the outside of the outer bearing ofi said stub shaft (se Figure 6). The upper sprocket is of less di meter thanthe lower sprocketfsee "Figure 4. Mounted upon the frame 1 at( l the delivery end ofthe machine, and arranged above the conveyor is a frame 105 preferably composed of angle iron material made up 1n any suitable manner, and providing bearings for a countershaft 106 (see Figures 1 and 4). this shaft being arranged in a transverse direction and at the same side as thel brush sprockets before inention, and above the shaft 7. Above this shaft `is a second countershaft 107, arranged in, parallel relation to the first shaft and above the saine, and this shaft carries a sprocket gear 109 driven from a sprocket gear 110 carried bythe shaft 111 of a motor,the motor being mounted upon the top of the frame as shown. ries a pinion 115 which is in mesh with a gear 116 carried by the lower-'shaft 106. fThe lower shaft has a sprocket wheel 117 of small diameter keyed thereto and connected by a suitable sprocket chain with a driving sprocket 119 keyed to the conveyor shaft 7. In addition this ,lower shaft has a sprocket 120, see Figure 4. of comparatively small diameter connected by a suitable chain with The shaft- 107 carthe inside sprocket 36 ofthe lower brush 31,

a suitable idler pulley 121 being provided for the upper run o f this sprocket chain,

the said' idler being suitably adjustably journaled to the frame.

Thus the lower shaft 106 drives all the sprocket wheels, power being transmitted to this shaft through a countershaft operated by a motor or any other suitable` power4 means. VThe relative diameters of the sprocket wheels are such that the belt and brushes are simultaneously driven, one brush in direction opposite the top surface of the other belt run, and the other 4brush in the same `direction as the surface Abelow said upper run, with this latter brush having a greater peripheral speed than the belt,vat point of'contact with the belt. A suitable drip pan 124 is arranged to catch the drippings, and scrapings. Arranged transversely above` the grid and `preferably carried by the frame which supports the upper brush is a supply pipe 125 t arranged transversely in a suitable bracket 126 carried bythe main frame. The pipe is cross-sectionally configurated and arranged to deliver a water spray into the angle ,between the brush and grid, on the forward side of the brush. The pipe is preferably made rotatably adjustable so that the spray can be accurately directed and for this purpose a set screw 127 is provided, the pipe be; ing adapted to turn in the bearing. Another.

vpipe 128 is arranged transversely between the upperand lower runs ofthe carrier and -is preferably made adjustable for the same purpose as the upper or first mentioned sup ply pipe. ranged to be directed upwardly and rearwardly into the angle between the lower brush and the lower side of the upperrun of the carrier. @The application of water de- This spray is hereinshown arscribe'd is found very elicient. rthe meatis moistened as it reaches the brushes, and a constant stream plays directly against both sides of the meat, and vat point of contact between the brush and meat, and passes through the bristles, to Wet a portion of the approaching surface, as Wellas that portioin engaged by. thebrushes. By the use of this machine' a fifty per cent reduction in the cost of handling has been secured. The maghine uses less water and is more sanitary, by far, than handling the meats by hand. The meat is more uniformly cleaned and all grease and fat are saved. Production is increased forty per cent over the old hand method of 'washing The machine is self-cleaning dueto the'action o .hot water sprays on the brush and moving apron. t The machine handles light pieces of thin bellies as well as very thick bellies, .and also handles small bacon squares as well as heavy stiff dry salt bellies. Moreover, the machine will handle lig-ht hams and shoulders as well as the heaviest hams. The brushes are constructed and are adjustable to touch the meat lightly and therefore the meatF is not torn but only cleane and the wearv on' the brush is negligible.

AThe hotwater sprays are located so" that. the water strikes the meat in a straight line just in front of the brush. One of the hot water sprays 'is located' so that the water p 'strikes the brush and meat justin lfront of plied during' brushing and after the meat is carry away all the loosened fat.

I claim as my invention: 1. A device of he class described compris-v -`ing a conveyor .belt having transverse grid'l bars, a brush between the belt runs. having bristles #projecting upwardly through: the l gridbars'of the upper run, and means 'for f rection atfpoint of engagement.' 2. A; device ofthe'lclass described com- `@arising.a` conveyor belt having transverse`` fr Agrid bars, a brush between the belt runs, havl-'mg bristles lprojecting upwardly throughv "tlie grid bars, and-'means .for the belt and 'brush in the same direction' t' Y point ofenggement, the brush at agreater speed than .th e.belt.-l 3.- .A device'of theclass described-femm '.y prising'a conveyor belt, a brushbetween the I`beltfrl'ntlis" having'. vrist-les projecting through the Upper o ,1 the? belt, amig-means for .rection at point of engagement, the brush at vgreater speed than thebelt,` and-'means for., directing. a sp'ray.- 'of water'into the yn leeting- .angleofbrush'and-belt, l.

'described 'corniy belt and having brist es d ly through the gridba'rs of the upper run, slide pl es supporting the axle for rot-ation the'brush and meat. The water is thus ap- Y belt between the upper driving-the belt-and brush in the same di- Yly through the `driving the belt-.and brush in'fthesame div a greater speed than the belt.-

' having belt having bristles projecting through the belt., a grid between belt andl brush, and means for driving belt and brush in opposite directions at point of engagement. 5. device of the class described cornprising a conveyor belt, a brushv above the belt having bristles projecting through the belt, and a grid between belt and brush, and means for driving belt and brush 'in opposite directions at point of engagement, and means for directing a spray into the meeting angle of brush andbelt. 6. A device ofthe class prising a-conveyor belt having transverse grid bars, a brush between the belt runs havingits axle arranged transversely ofthe belt and having bristles projecting upwardly through the grid bars of the upper run, slide plates'supporting the axle for rotation and having arms swin able thereabout, and a brush rotatably h el and -transversely ofthe belt.-

v7. A device of the class described comprising a conveyor belt having transversev A rid bars, .a brush between the belt runsl aving. its axle arran ed transversely of the and ha ingarms swingable thereabout, and a `brush rotatably held by the arms above and transversely-.of thebelt, and means. inter- --'osed between said beltA and upper brush to. hold the stock against the belt.

8. 'A device of the classdescribed comprising a conveyor belt, a brush' between the belt described comby the arms above projecting upwardruns having itsLaxle arrangedtransversely of the 'belt and having bristles projecting upwardly throughthe belt, a vertically ad'- justable means supporting said axle for rotation, arms swingable upon the axle -and having a brush rotatablethereon above and transversely of the belt, and a grid above the brush and belt engageable v`iiritli'thc stock to hold the same against curling.

9. A devies of the dass described' com."

prising a conve or belt having transverse gridbars','"a' brus between the beltirnns having its .axle arranged transversely lof the belt-and having bristles `projecting 'upwardgrid bars of 4the upperf'run,

slide plates supporting the axle; for rotation 'and having arms swingablev thereabout, a.

brush rotatably held bv the arms aboveand .transversal .of thev belt, and means for siiupper brush .in a', direction feedyand'the lower in the same' irection at 10. A- device of the` class describizd comprising a conveyor belt having transverse -grid bars, a jbr'ush between the belt runs its a'xle arranged transversely of the belt end having bristles projectingupward -"multaneon y driving belt, landi-brushes, .the f opposite belt ly througli the grid bars of the upper run, slide plates supporting the axle for rotation and having arms swingable thereabout, a brush rotatably held by the arms above and transversely of the belt, means interposed between said belt and upper brush to hold the stock against the belt, and means for driving the belt, and brushes, one brush ina direction opposite to that of one belt run and the other in the same dii'ection as the other belt run.

j 11. A device of the class described comprising a base frame, an endless carrier upon the frame having transverse grid bars, a Abrush mounted to rotate between runs of the carrier substantially transversely thereof, an'd adapted to be adjusted to have its bristles projected between and above the bars `of the carrier, and a stationary grid above the carrier composed `of longitudinally arranged spaced bars, said grid being vertical- 1y adjustable at one end and having its opb i'above the carrierand brushes arranged 41'e.

posite end held in spaced relation to the cai'- rier, to yield upwardly. Y

12. A device of the class described coinprising a base frame, an endless carrier upon the frame having transverse grid bars, a brush mounted to rotate between the runs of' the carrier and having its bristles projecting through the carrier bai-s, a stationary.

grid above the carrier'coniposed of longitudinally arranged spaced bars, a rotatable brush swingingly adjustable above the grid, 'the journals of said brushes having a common mounting vertically adjustable.

13. A device of the class describedcnmprising a base fiame and gridlike carrier upon the frame, a brush mounted to rotate between the runs of the carrier and having a mounting adjustable toward the upper run, a. grid adjustably mounted above the carrier, and a brush-rotatable above and transversely of the grid, and swingingly mounted for adjustment toward the'carrier; f

` 14. A. device of the class described coinprising a base frame, an endless carrier having spaced transverse bars, .a grid spaced spectively between the runs of the carrier, and above the grid, each having bristles extending into the space between the grid and the upper run of the belt.

, 15. A frame, an endless carrier thereon, elements vertically adjustable at opposite sides of the frame, a brush arranged between the belt runs, and journaled u on the elements, arms mpvable with the adjustable elements, and swingable about the axis of rotation of the lower brush and extending above 4the fra-ine, and a brush'journaled upon the arms above the upper run of the-belt and driving means connecting upper andV lower4 brushes.

16. A frame, an endless carrier thereon,

elements vertically adjustable at oppositel sides of the frame, a brush arranged between the belt runs, stub shafts carried by respective adjustable elements and detaehably engaged with the brush to support. it, one of the shafts having a driving connection with the brush, and both shafts being arranged to permit release of the brush by movement in `:in axial direction.

17. A fi'aii'ic, an endless carrier thereon, elements vertically adjustable. at opposite sides of the frame, a brush arranged between the belt runs, stub shafts carried by respective adjustable elements and detnchably engaged with the brush to support it, one of the shafts having a driving connection with the brush, and both shafts being arranged to permit release of the brush by movement iii an axial direction, the non-driving shaft having means to releasably secure it in brush-supporting position, and to allow it to be withdrawn in an axial direction to release the brush, arms rotatable about the shafts and extending above the frame, a brush including a shaft detachably journaled belt, driving meansl connecting the upper shaft and the driving shaft of' the lower brush, and arranged at one side of the cor; responding arm, and driving means on the opposite side ofthe arm keyed to drive the shaft 18. An endless conveyor composed of spaced, transverse vgrid bars, a brush between the runs of the conveyor having bristles extending through the bais of the ,upper run, a grid spaced above the upper run and .composed of bars extending in direction of travel of the carrier, and a brush arranged' above the grid and having bristles extending downwardly therethrough.

19. An endless conveyor composedV of spaced, transverse grid bars, a brush between tlie runs of the conveyor having bristles extending through the bars of the upper run, a grid spaced above the upper run and composed of spaced bars, and yieldably connectedto permit its rise and fall, and a brush arranged above the grid and having. bristles extending downwardly therethrough.

20. An endless conveyor mounted on the frame and composed of spaced transverse grid bars, a brush between the rims of the conveyor having bristles extending through 'the bars of the upper run, a grid spaced above the upper run and composed of bars extending in direction of. travel of the carrier, and yieldably connected at its forward end to permit its rise and fall, and pivotally iio ` the bars of the upper run, w'grd 'spaced above the upper run 'and composed of bars extending in direction. of travel of the car- Tier, and yeldably connected at its forward 5 end to permitits rise andfall, and pivotally mounted vat its opposite end, and a, bru'sh arranged? above the grid und having bristlesA extending downwardly theretllufougll,ly; the

pivotal mounting of, the grid being adjustabletoward and away from ythe conveyor. l0 lln'witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand thisf 13th day of October 1926.

.f GEORGE A. HORMEL. 

